Collar and cover for tank gauge holes



1927. May T. J. CALHOUN COLLAR AND COVER FOR TANK GAUGE HOLES Filed Feb. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1927. May 10 T. J. CALHOUN COLLAR AND COVER FOR TANK GAUGE HOLES Filed Feb. 12. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Tacy J Cal/204a;

A TTORNEYJ and oil refinery equipment I integral bracket 5,

bearing aperture 6, a hole 7 for a padlock or Patented May 10, 1927. 3

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRACY J. CALHOUN,

ENGINEERING COMPANY,

on. CONSERVATION OHIO.

comma AND COVER Eon TANK GAUGE notes.

Application filed February 12, 1925. Serial No. 8,734.

The present invention relates to covers for tank hole openings such as gauge holes, manholes, inspection covers and the like in tanks and particularly in tanks such as are used for the storage of oils and lighter fuels in which a self-sealing tight seating cover is desired. More particularly, the invention relates to the details of construction which provide for obtaining a self aligning cover and one which will have a line contact with the seat. I

Further objects of. the invention are the provision of means for forming a joint which will shed water and through which water will not work into the tank and also for so forming the seat and seal as to preventthe liability of sparking when the covers are moved down onto the seat.

To the accomplishment of 'the foregoing and related .ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention ma be used.

In said annexed rawings:--

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my invention as applied to a gauge hole collar and cover; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a POI'tlOIt of the device in elevation; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan vicw but showing a manhole collar and cover; Fig. 5 is a sectional v'ew on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing a portion in elevation; and Fig. 6 is an enlarge section of a detail on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

the line 3-3 of similar to Fig. 1

The present invention as applied to auge 1 having a base ange' holes includes a collar 2 provided with rivet holes or apertures 3 for the reception of the securing rivets orbolts. This collar is a vertical ring having its top edge 4 beveled ofl from the inner edge downwardl to the outer edge. Thesurfac'e 4 is curve and is preferably formed as a part of a sphere whose center is on the vertical airis M of the collar below the horizontal plane of the collar. Any regular curve may, how-' ever, be employed.

At one side the collar is provided with an this bracket having a having the like, and a rearwardly extending portion 8 provided with a stop shoulder 9.

The cover proper comprises an inverted cup shaped member 10 having a downwardly extending flange, or rim 11 which is thicker at the bottom than at its line of attachment to the cover. On the inner face of the cover is an annularirib 12 and a se arate seating ring 13 of soft metal is presse or otherwise formed in place between therib 12 and the flange 11. This ring has a beveled seating surface 14 formed as a portion of a cone so that when it rests on the collar edge 4 it will make a substantial line contact therewith as best shown in Fig. 3.

At one side the, cover is provided .with a laterally extending pedal portion 15 which has two downwardly extending apertured ribs 16 adapted to .be alignedtwith the hole in the collar bracket to receive a pivot pin 17 which is held in place by cotter pins or the like passed through holes 18 in the ends of the in.

T is pedal 15. is also provided with a stop rib 20-adapted in the raised position of the cover to contact the shoulder 9 on the collar bracket. The pedal part proper of the cover 18' formed with a series of corrugations or small rib-likeprojections 21 so as to give a secure grip.

In the manhole type of cover such as is shown 1n Figs. 4 to 6, there is a collar 21 an apertured base 22 adapted to be secured .to the tank or receptacle by means of rivets or the like assingthrough the aperture's'23. As in t e gauge hole type, the present collar is provided at its upper edge with a beveled seat 24, the seat inclining downwardly from the inner collar edge to the outer.

In this construction, the beveled seat 24 is shown as conical in shape instead of curved as in the previous form.

At one side thecollar is provided with two cars 25' having apertures 26 for the reception of a pivot pin 27. Opposite thereto and at other spaced points, there are pairs of apertured cars 28 in which pins 29 are mounted and bolts 30 are pivotally mounted on said pins and are each provided with a wing nut- 31 for clamping the cover. The cover proper comprises an inverted cup shaped member 34 having a down-turned flange 35 around the edge and a second annular flange 36 concentric therewith and Lil spaced therefrom, this second flange being of less depth than the first. The soft metal seating ring 37 is tightly secured in the cover and is beveled off to form a meeting surface for the conical collar edge. In this form the surface 38 of the ring is curved, preferably to be a partof a sphere so as to obtain a line contact with the collar and to be self centering thereon. The curvature is best shown in Fig. 6 and as shown in this figure, the radius of curvature is not, on the center line of the cover or collar as in the other form.

At one side the cover is provided with two extending arms 40 provided with apertures 41. to receive the pivot pin and to be loosely mounted thereon, the apertures being slight ly oval as shown in Fig. 4. These arms have a stop surface 42 adapted in their open position of the cover to flange of the collar to limit the pivotal movement of the cover. Around the cover and spaced apart are pairs of spaced arms, three such pairs being shown, between which the bolts 30 will swing and on which the wing nuts will seat to clamp the cover in place; One or all of these pairs of arms may beprovi'ded with a hole 48 for a padlock or other locking device. In larger covers of this type, the cover is preferablyprovided with a handle,45 or suitable means for lifting the cover when it is desired to open the same.

The pivot pins are made slightly smaller than the holes in the cover ribs and the bracket so that the cover may move slightly on the pin and the ribs are spaced'slightly from the bearing portion of the bracket so that the covers are capable of slight longitudinal movement along the pin as well as being loose thereon. This loose cover mounting allows the covers to move and thus center themselves on the collar so as to always make a tight seat therewith. The curved or rounded collar edge and the cone seat with the lost motion cover mount give suflicient place to allow for accurate self seating.

As th bearing between the collar and cover is underneath the cover flange or rim, it provides a rain-proof joint and no water will seep up the inclined seat or joint between cover and collar. Any water will drain down the seat in fact and thus the present type of cover prevents moisture from entering the tank. The soft metal seat in the cover in advantageous as it can easily be replaced if it becomes worn or damaged or if necessary a complete new cover may be installed without the necessity of removing the collar from the tank.

The soft seat is preferably placed in the cover as it is. less liable to damage in this position. This t pe of seat gives a better and tighter joint t an two hard metals and also prevents sparking due to friction which contact with the base ed on said collar,

Leas es sometimes occurs where two hard metals are employed. The construction'is simple and inexpensive to make as well as being sturdy. There are only three parts employed and the pivot pin fit is a loose one, thus reducing the cost of aclose fit at this point.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. 7

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a cover for tank holes, the combination of a collar adapted to be secured to the tank and having a beveled seating edge, a cover pivotally mounted on said collar and having a complementary beveled seating portion, one of said two beveled meetin seats being curved to give a line contact, sald pivotal connection being loose so as to allow said cover to center itself in seating position.

2. In a cover for tank holes, the combination of a collar adapted to be secured to the tank and having a cover of inverted cup shape pivotally mountso as to allow said a beveled seatin rin said cover and adapte to rest on said collar edge, one of said meeting seatsurfaces being conical and the other formed as a portion of a sphere to obtain a line contact therebetween.

3. In acover for tank holes, the combination of a collar adapted to be secured to the tank and having a beveled seating edge which is curved, and a cover pivotally mounted on'said collar and having a beveled seating portion of soft metal adapted to rest on said curved beveled edge to give a line contact therebetween, said pivotal connection for said cover being loose to allow said cover to. center itself. 1

4:. In a cover for tank holes, the combination of a collar adapted to be secured to the tank and having a beveled seating edge formed as a portion of a sphere, a cover of inverted cup shape pivotally mounted on said collar, said mounting bein loose to allow said cover to "be self centering, and a. beveled seating soft metal ring rigidly mounted in said cover and adapted to contact with said collar edge to form a self lclentering line contact seat for said gauge ole.

5. In a cover for tank holes, the combination of a collar provided with a base flange for attachment to the tank and having its upper edge beveled outwardly and down wardly and formed as a portion of a sphere Whose center is on' the axis of the collar, said base flange having a bearing bracket,

rigidly mounted in.

beveled seating edge, a

said mounting being loose rec an inverted cup shaped cover provided with a pedal portion pivotally mounted in said bearing bracket and loosely mounted so as to be self centering, a soft metal seating ring mounted in said cover and beveled outwardly and downwardly and adapted to rest on said edge to form a line contact when in its closed position. v

6. In a cover for tank holes, the combination of a collar adapted to be secured to the tank and having a beveled seating edge formed as a portion of a sphere, a cover of inverted cup shape pivotally mounted on said collar, said mounting being loose so as to allow said cover to be self-centering, a. seatmg ring mounted in said cover and having its inner surface'bevelled to form a portion of a conical surface, said surface being adapted to rest on said spherical collar surface to form a line contact therewith.

7. In a cover for tank holes, the combination of a collar adapted to be secured to the tank and having a beveled seating edge, a cover pivotally mounted on said collar and having a complementary beveled seating portion, one of said two beveled meeting seats being made of soft metal and one of two beveled meeting seats being curved to give a line contact, said pivotal connection for said cover being loose so as to allow said coverto center itself in seating position.

Signed by me this 27th day of January,

TRACY J. CALHOUN. 

